I Am a Man: From Memphis, a Lesson In Life

In 1968, Elmore Nickleberry stood among 1,300 other African-American men in Memphis, Tennessee as they collectively asserted their right to be treated with dignity. Mr. Nickleberry hasn't sat down yet. Each night, he guides his garbage truck through the streets of Memphis — a living link to a frequently forgotten chapter in American history, and one long eclipsed by the slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the city. Surrounded by the unique soul music that helped make Memphis world famous, I AM A MAN sets memories of the city's sanitation workers — filled with love, sorrow and sometimes even laughter — against a present-day backdrop of Mr. Nickleberry's route, life and family. More than just history, Elmore Nickleberry offers a lesson in life.